New anti-crime task force

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - There's a new anti-crime task force for Franklin and Hampshire counties.

The members of the group were sworn in Friday morning at the Northwestern District Attorney's office in Northampton.

The anti-crime task force will help local law enforcement agencies coordinate their work allowing policing agencies to operate beyond a single town's jurisdiction.

It will investigate a variety of crimes including drugs, firearms and gang activity. 

Northwestern district attorney, David Sullivan, says "when there's major crimes, armed robbery ring, what we saw bank robbery ring to make sure those resources are put together, we set our priorities and really interdicted major crimes in communities."

The regional task force will allow the 47 member communities to save by pooling their resources on investigations.

State grants are helping to fund the task force.